Daily Madden: The Start of the NFL Season

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – It may seem like just yesterday that the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. But the National Football League regular season is starting up on Wednesday with those same New York Giants taking on the Dallas Cowboys in the season opener.

John Madden talked to the KCBS Morning Crew and said he wasn’t too surprised by any of the final roster cuts around the league.

“A lot of people don’t understand, the final cuts are really a three- or four-day process and sometimes it goes into a couple of weeks,” he said. “Because you’re trying to get players through and then if they don’t get claimed, you try to bring them back and get them on your practice squad.”

Madden said there are also many veterans who get cut by teams because they don’t want their salaries to be guaranteed for the upcoming season. So instead, they’ll bring them back after the first or second week and see how their roster plays out.

Injuries are always a factor when it comes to roster decisions and the San Francisco 49ers just lost one of their key defensive players. Although outside linebacker Parys Haralson was expected to lose his starting spot to second year player Aldon Smith, Madden said he was still an important piece of their defense.

“We always think, well at least they didn’t lose Patrick Willis but there’s a lot of surrounding cast in these things that are very important,” he said. “The guys that are backups, playing the extra linebacker defense, playing special teams, all those things that you don’t always think about.”

Madden also talked about perhaps the most unsung player on the stout 49ers defense, Justin Smith, calling him one of the most underrated players in the NFL for “all the little things” he does.

Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.

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